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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity about?

This is a discretionary research funding opportunity from the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science. It is offered through the Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER), within the Climate and Environmental Sciences Division (CESD), and it focuses on Earth System Modeling (ESM). The goal is to improve climate prediction by strengthening how key Earth system components are represented in models and how those components are coupled together.

What is the main purpose of the program?

The core aim is to strengthen the nation’s ability to predict climate behavior. The opportunity emphasizes both scientific improvements (better representation of major Earth system processes) and practical outcomes (credible, usable projections that can support societal decision-making and energy planning).

How is this opportunity connected to ACME?

A central feature of the opportunity is its connection to the Accelerated Climate Model for Energy (ACME), a DOE-laboratory-led initiative. Applicants are invited to contribute ideas, methods, and model improvements that help ACME produce high-resolution climate simulations that run efficiently on DOE high-performance computing resources.

What is ACME trying to achieve that applicants should support?

The solicitation highlights two simultaneous targets for ACME: (1) improved scientific fidelity in simulating the coupled Earth system, and (2) improved computational performance on current and next-generation DOE supercomputers. Proposed work is expected to contribute to one or both of these objectives.

What does "accelerated" modeling mean in this context?

"Accelerated" modeling reflects an emphasis on modern computational approaches that can speed up simulations, scale effectively on large machines, and make it feasible to run more detailed simulations or larger numbers of experiments.

Which computing resources are referenced for performance and scaling?

The opportunity specifically references DOE high-performance computing resources, including systems at NERSC and DOE Leadership Class Facilities (LCFs). Applicants are encouraged to consider approaches that perform well on these types of large-scale systems.

What technical or scientific topic areas are specifically solicited?

The announcement solicits projects that advance climate system modeling in targeted areas known to be challenging and influential for climate projections. The areas listed are: atmospheric chemistry, convection, ocean biogeochemistry, tidal and estuary representations, land disturbance representations, and improvements to system-coupling treatments.

What kinds of work are included under atmospheric chemistry?

Atmospheric chemistry is described as how gases and aerosols form, react, and move through the atmosphere. Projects in this area would aim to improve how these processes are represented in Earth system models.

What does the solicitation mean by "convection"?

Convection is described as small-scale storm and cloud processes that strongly affect rainfall and energy transport. The opportunity highlights convection because it has a major impact on climate behavior and modeled outcomes.

What does "ocean biogeochemistry" cover in this program?

Ocean biogeochemistry is described as biological and chemical processes in the ocean that influence carbon cycling and climate feedbacks. Work in this area would improve how those processes and feedbacks are represented in the modeling system.

Why are tidal and estuary representations included?

The solicitation calls out tidal and estuary representations as a way to improve coastal and nearshore dynamics. These dynamics matter for sea level impacts and coastal circulation, so better representations can affect relevant modeled outcomes.

What are examples of land disturbances mentioned?

The program lists examples of land disturbances such as fire, land-use change, pests, drought impacts, and other disruptions that alter land-atmosphere exchanges. Projects may focus on improving model representations of these disturbances and their climate-relevant effects.

What are "system-coupling treatments" in Earth system modeling?

System-coupling treatments are the methods used to connect major model components (such as atmosphere, ocean, land, sea ice, chemistry, and potentially human drivers) in a consistent and stable way. The opportunity encourages improvements to these coupling methods because coupling choices can drive large differences in modeled outcomes.

Why does the program emphasize coupling between Earth system components?

The common thread described in the announcement is that both component representations and coupling choices can produce large differences in modeled outcomes. Strengthening these aspects is presented as essential for improving credible climate projections.

What award instrument is expected for selected projects?

Awards are expected to be made as cooperative agreements.

What does it mean that awards are expected to be cooperative agreements?

The opportunity notes that cooperative agreements typically mean DOE anticipates substantial involvement in the funded work. Examples provided include coordination with DOE laboratories, alignment with ACME development practices, shared milestones, and collaborative integration into the broader modeling system.

How many awards does DOE anticipate making?

DOE anticipated roughly 10 awards.

What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling is $350,000 per award.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as broadly open (unrestricted), subject to any specific limits stated in the full announcement.

What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?

The funding opportunity number is DE-FOA-0001482. The opportunity falls under CFDA 81.049.

What is the application closing date listed for this opportunity?

The application closing date listed is March 14, 2016. The program notes that the original and current closing dates are the same.

Will ACME model code and outputs be shared with the broader community?

Yes. The announcement notes that ACME model code and outputs will be released regularly to the broader community, signaling an intent for wide reuse and community impact rather than isolated, one-off model development.

How should a proposed project align with the program’s broader goals?

Based on the description, the program is looking for contributions that strengthen Earth system model fidelity and/or improve computational performance for high-resolution simulations on DOE computing resources, while supporting credible projections that can inform societal decision-making and energy planning.